Texans-Jaguars pregame atmosphere matches matchup

While the Texans get in their pregame work before Thursday night's game against the Jaguars, the activity outside EverBank Field is just about as subdued, with low-key tailgating and slow going for scalpers.

The Clynes also were alone. Michigan transplants who became Jaguars fans four years ago and season-ticket holders three seasons back, the sisters sat next to their car in an otherwise empty parking lot nearly four hours before kickoff Thursday. Then they waited for the start of the most unattractive NFL prime-time TV matchup in recent history.

Texans-Jaguars: the battle for the NFL's basement. Potentially The Teddy Bridgewater Bowl, with the loser possibly being rewarded with the No. 1 pick of the 2014 draft.

It was the worst game of the year thus far in a league in love with parity. The Clynes were primed for their personal party.

The sisters already had their tickets. Section 226, near the northeast end zone. The Clynes turned down club seats Thursday, preferring to stick to their normal pregame routine and cheer from their normal section.

"It's the love of football that started it out," Angie said. "And then we just started to love them - the good and the bad."

Amanda also needed to win a bet. Her boyfriend's friend is a Jacksonville transplant from Texas and a legit Texans fan. The friend offered a pregame $20 wager: a two-win team would beat a three-win team.

Amanda took the bet on one condition.

"A bar tab," she said. "Which could be really expensive."

Not a profitable night

Meanwhile, the scalpers were just hoping for a little old-fashioned profit.

About 15 men waving "I NEED TICKETS" signs worked the exterior of the stadium.

Tony, Deon and Jay - Jacksonville-based scalpers working for a broker - said Thursday was as bad as it gets during a season that has been "horrible."

"Everything's going to be a discounted rate," said Deon, who was allowed to use only his first name so he could speak freely.

Jay was feeling a little more generous.

"It's going to be like a family game," he said. "Bring your family, 20-, 30-buck game."

The last good one was when Tom Brady visited Dec. 23, 2012, and the New England Patriots held on for a 23-16 victory.

"It was off the chains," Tony said. "They was still buying up to halftime."

Not for the NFL Network's promotional nightmare. Scalpers pocketed their paydays by selling below face, then slightly marking up their product. Emphasis on slightly.

"No, no, no," Tony said. "Nothing's being sold above face value."

On the bright side

Eric was a little more optimistic. The annual seller and 37-year-old Orlando resident acknowledged it had been a rough year in scalper-land. But while the resell trio said Texans-Jaguars on Thursday night was the equivalent of a broker graveyard - kids had to go to school and adults had to work Friday - Eric believed any national attention would be turned into positive light.

Brian T. Smith is a sports columnist for the Houston Chronicle. He has won multiple Associated Press Sports Editors awards and been honored by numerous journalism organizations. Smith was a Houston Texans beat writer for the Chronicle from 2013-15 and an Astros beat writer from 2012-13. The New Orleans-area native previously covered the NBA's Utah Jazz (The Salt Lake Tribune) and Portland Trail Blazers (The Columbian), among other beats. He is the author of the book Liftoff, which documented the Astros' rebuild and 2017 World Series championship.

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